Get Real: Are You A Worrier?

Are you a worrier? Do you tend to fixate on a problem or situation to the point of distraction or anxiety? Do you feel like you can’t rest until you solve the problem? Do you find yourself stuck in the past, rehearsing and reliving mistakes or difficulties? Do you find yourself obsessed with future events and outcomes? Do you wake in the middle of the night thinking on a situation from your day that you can’t seem to shake? Are you often gripped by a paralyzing fear? Do you tend to have a fearful “what if” mentality? Yep, you might be a worrier!

This week in the Get Real Bible study group that meets “live”, we will be looking at ways to overcome worry in our lives. But I’m not quite ready to blog that lesson yet. So while you’re waiting, prepare your hearts and minds by reading through some passages from God’s Word that speak to us about worry. We’ll be working through this exercise in class, so here’s your chance to work alongside us.

As you read through these passages, ask yourself some questions:

Who is speaking?

Who is the audience? Do you learn anything about their circumstances or experiences? Can you relate to any of their experiences, thoughts or emotions expressed?

What repeated keywords or phrases do you see in the passage or verse?

What truths do you find regarding handling worry in your life in these passages?

What does this passage have to say about worry?

What answers do you discover for overcoming worry?

Record your insights, any questions you have, and any verses that God seems to highlight for you —those that seem to jump off the page and grab your heart and mind.

I want to give you the New Testament definition for worry/anxiety. Keep this in mind as you read through these passages:

anxiety/worry – merimna – anxiety, care that brings disruption to the personality and the mind; (from the word “merizō ” meaning to divide to separate into parts, cut into pieces to divide into parties, i.e. be split into factions – through the idea of distraction – care anxiety.)

anxious – merimnao – to be anxious about, to be troubled with cares, to seek to promote one’s interests.

Read through the following passages:

Matthew 6:25-34 – look specifically for the questions Jesus asks in this passage!

Luke 12:22-34 – parallel passage to Matthew 6, but read and look for similarities and differences in Luke’s account of the events.

Luke 10:38-42

Philippians 4:4-9

1 Peter 5:5-11

James 4:13-15

Psalm 4 (Psalm of David written when he was being pursued by Absalom, his son, when he was seeking to take his father’s kingdom.)

I’ll be back later in the week to share more insights for overcoming worry in our lives! For now remember Jesus’ promise to us:

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. —John 14:27